A Few Tips for Swifter Turn Times

The appraisal profession is evolving continuously. Commonly, it seems, appraisers are asked to present more information or have steps added to their appraisal process. They do this extra work to ensure the end user has the best data to be had. To stay current with the constantly changing requirements, PSM Appraisals, LLC is continuously seeking additional tools and tweaking processes in order to increase efficiency so we can do more work for our clients. Since PSM Appraisals, LLC knows that time is important to everyone, we've listed a couple of tips you can do to accelerate the process on any appraisals ordered from PSM Appraisals, LLC.

Are you ordering appraisals online?: When you order online, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the order was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. This tip single-handedly will save the most time! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we received the order.
Complete and accurate subject property data is essential.: Being just one number off on the street address can really add unnecessary time to an appraisal assignment. Unique identifiers like a tax parcel number, plat map number, or subdivision name are helpful data to include with your request. Even a list of recent sales from the area is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may be different from yours.
Be sure to let us know about the property's unique details.: It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter house. What takes time is analyzing how features unique to a property add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. Let us know up front when you order your report if there are unique elements of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's had a recent addition constructed, it's subject to zoning restrictions, it's susceptible to flooding. These are things we would find out on our own anyway, and knowing them as soon as possible is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
Set proper expectations with the homeowner.: One of the most inefficient steps of the appraisal process is confirming an appointment with the homeowner. Some homeowners are clearly apprehensive with the notion an unknown persons wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. Under the impression that it will make the house appraise for more money, a few homeowners think they ought to make the place spotless before the inspection. And will put off the appraisal inspection until they can get around to cleaning.

Coming from you -- a person they've been working with on their loan -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't change their home's value one little bit, and likely shorten the appraisal inspection time. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your customers. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with the staff and our services. And tell them it's in their interest to set the appointment quickly!
Are you using our website as a resource to keep tabs on the status of your report?: Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information is instantly available to you online. There's no easier or faster way to keep track of your report's status.